Edward Howard

Edward Daniel Howard (November 5, 1877 – January 2, 1983) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Auxiliary Bishop of Davenport from 1924 to 1926 and the Archbishop of Portland from 1926 to 1966. At the time of his death in 1983 he was the oldest Catholic bishop in the world. Early life and education Edward Howard was born in Cresco, Iowa, to John and Marie (née Fleming) Howard. His father, who was born in Ireland but immigrated to the United States as a child, served during the Civil War with the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was wounded at the Siege of Vicksburg. Howard had a twin brother who died in infancy. He attended St. Joseph College in Dubuque, where he received his high school education and completed two years of college. He continued his studies at St. Mary College in Kansas and at St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota. Priesthood Howard was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Ireland on June 12, 1906. He then returned to St. Joseph College, where he served as professor of Greek and Latin at the high school department. He served as principal of the high school from 1908 until 1916, when he became dean of the college. From 1921 to 1924, he served as president of St. Joseph's. Episcopacy On December 23, 1923, Howard was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Davenport and titular bishop of Isaura by Pope Pius XI. He received his episcopal consecration on April 8, 1924 from Archbishop Austin Dowling, with Bishops Daniel Gorman and Thomas Drumm serving as co-consecrators, at St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque. As an auxiliary bishop, he assisted Bishop James J. Davis for two years.